Pull chain socket



May 14, 1935. F. E. JOHNSON PULL CHAIN SOCKET Filed Nv. 17, 193s E. m WW .WY 5 4 .pb F

Patented May 14, 1935 V2,001,425; Y rou.. CHAIN socingr d terne Franlr- E.`.lohnson, New Bedford," Massyassignor Y n f vto 'John L-Pauldng, Inc.,-New Bedford, .Ii/llass.,`

a corporation'of Massachusetts y Applieatininovember 1`7, 1933. lserial 16.698,444

" t'oiaimsf (01.'-173-354) c This inventionl relates to .lamp sockets and more particularlyto .that typeof sockets adapted to be operated by a chain and commonly-.known` =ars.pullrchain.scckets. .l

In this type of lamp sockets, thecurrent for illuminating ,the lamp` is controlled by a Vswitch inwhichfan .actuating member is; rotated through` a xed arcby-.pulling a chainv attached thereto against thetension of ,a spring which when the chain is released returns the actuating-member to its initial position. devices-.toprovide a .bell guide through which the pull chain passes out from the switch but it frequently..happens, however, when the chain tis pulledto .operate the switch and then ysuddenly released thatthe return movement of the actuatingmember pulls `thechain in toofar sothat it becomes jammed insidethe guide rendering the switch inoperative.

Y One of the important objects ofrthe invention is .the .provision of means ina pull `chain socket for lockingthe chain against undue inward move'- ment` so that irrespective of the way inwhich the-pull chain .isoperated there will be no possibility-of thechain beingretracted into-the switch mechanism in vsuchinanneras to-afect its switch operation. 1 I

Another object of the'invention is to provide simple,v compact randinexpensive means for accomplishing the foregoing object. i Otherobjects .of the: invention will be more specically set forthfand ldescribed hereinafter.

-My-invention contemplates the Vprovision of .Y means-for preventing anynndue inward movement ofthe pull chain through the guideon the return movement of the switch actuatingmember. .In its "preferred Vform the invention consists :in providing a guardt'rnember va'daptedtto projectfinzbetween vthe ntwo links vof VtheV chain which lie adjacent the inner end ofthe guide when'theactuating'member is in normalposition inv order'to prevent any further inward movement of-thepull chaini AIn the. accompanying drawing illustrating one form'of the invention, Figure l isv a view in per-Y spective of a pull chain vsocket provided .with a chain guard constructed and adapted to be operated.inaccordancen-withmy invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the insulating body and various parts of the switch mechanism; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of a portion of the switch structure showing the guard in its normal relation to the pull chain and chain guide; and Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a guard having a, notched end.

It is common in these Referringto the drawing, there is shownianinsulating body comprising Aa lower diskforblockl ID andan upper disk or block II fastenedgtogether in .spaced relation by three brackets i2, ISand. I4, the upperface of vthe lower block Hlbeing provided with suitable recesses I5, i6 andv I'I and the lower face ofthe .upper block-II with recesses l8, I9 and '29 for receiving` the turned ends of the brackets I2', I3 and Iliwrespec tively which are fastened'to'the two blocksby rivets `or other suitableimeans.. AThe brackets I3 and Id are each provided with a' binding sereni(`= 2l and' serve as terminals.` The blocks orldiysksf. aremade `of .porcelainfor lany other lsuitable sulating material.VV Fastened to the top face of the upper block II is a .lamp receivingscrew shell' 22 of vusual and well-known construction which forms one'of Ythe, lamp contacts by means of theI screw 23 connecting the shell to the bracket ter-f` minal I3. A central lamp contact 24 isfas'tened to the upper face of the block IVI within the screw shell, the latter being cut short' circuiting. l K.

Mounted'` between thetwo blocks or disks is a switch adapted to .be'operated by a pullvchain. 2

Thelower face ofthe upperblockII ispr'ol vided with an annular series of four inclines formingratchet teeth 26,` 21,.'28and .29. The twoalternate teeth 2.and28 are` faced by twov metallic fixed contacts 30 and 3l respectively,

away at 25 'tof avoid-` the contact-,.39 being provided-*with atailponnected by. a rivet .32 to the central lamp contact 2t onthe upper face of block `II and the other contact 3l being an extension'partof the bracket. I4. For bridging thevxed contacts, .a metallic contact member .35 is provided. witha vhole andis rotatably mountedon a pintlinterposed between-the ytwo blocks` I0 and II '..with its two ends seated in recesses 33 and v39y fori-ned insaid blocks` respectively. The contact rmember 35 has a pair 4of opposite radial wings Mladapted to v,en-4: gage the iixedi` contacts 3E! and 3! whenturned. into proper position, 4which 4wingsare inclined in order *to make flat engagement yeither .with said contacts or with the ratchet teeth.

w-For rotating the contact member 35A, anractuating-member .4Z irl-'the form of a quadrant is mounted `onthe ypin 31 'belowthe contact member 35 and is provided on its'upper face with n a circular series of ratchet teeth 43 adapted to engage radial projections or fingers et on the chain comprising balls 4l and connecting links 53 are fastened at one end to the actuating member and led out through a bell guide 48 on the bracket I2. The actuating memberlis provided adjacent itscircumferential edge with'a flange, 49 rightv angled in cross section to form a channel for the chain, the end of lwhich is hooked into one turned split end 50 of the flange 49. The other end of theflange is extended to form a curved tongue or guard 5I, the end of which projects in between the two balls -which lieadjacent the Y,

inner end of the bell guide 48 when the actuating member is in normal position. If desired, the end of the guard may be notched as shown in the guard 52 in Figure 4.

tionV the end of the guard 5| abuts that ball of the pull chain in the inner end of the guide 48 thereby acting as a stop toy prevent any further inward movement of the pull chain. When the chain is pulled to operate the switch the resulting' movement of the actuating member swings the guard out 'ofv the way so that it in no way interferes with that/operation.

In the drawingI have shownmerely the in-v ber is turned, its wings 40 ride up on the inclined ratchet teeth ron the lower face of the insulating block Il, the spring 45 permitting this movement, until they reach the next succeeding ratchet teeth when the pressure of the spring forces the wings into flat vengagement with said teeth. On each operation of the actuating member, the contact member is moved a quarter revolution thereby either closing the circuit between the xed contacts 30 and 3l or opening the circuit. When the pull chain is released, theactuating member is'V returned -to its normal position, the ratchet teeth 4 3 sliding over thefingers 44 on the contact member. In this operation the guard travels with Vthe actuating member and on its return movement the guard returns'to its position as showny in Figure 3 to stopfundue' inwardmovement of the chain.

Although my invention is illustratedas `em bodied ma. lamp socket, it is notte be u mited thereto because it may be used in any construction which employs a pull chain for operating a movable part.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of an actuating member, a spring for holding said member in normal position, 'apull 2,001,425 42 and the other end secured in the insulating chain, comprising balls and connecting links, for moving said actuating member against the tension of said spring, achain guide and means mounted on said actuating member and adapted, when said actuating member is in normal position,

to project between the two balls of said chain adjacent the inner end of said guide to prevent further inward movement of said pull chain. i

Ina device Ofthecharacter described, the combination of anl actuating Vmemberadapted for rotation through a predetermined arc, a spring for holding said member in normal retracted position, a pull chain comprising balls and connecting leaks .for Yoperating said actuating member, av chain guide through which said pull chain leads out of ysaiddevice and a. curved guard mounted on v said actuating member and adapted to project in between .the two balls of said chain adjacent said guide for preventing undue inward movement It will be observed, referring to Figure. 3, that Vwhen the actuating member is in normal posiprising balls and connecting links, said chain be' ing attached at one end to' said actuating mem.

ber for. moving said actuating member against -the tension of said spring to operate saidv switch,

a chain guide and a guard mounted onsaid actuatingmember'and adapted, when said actuating member is in normalposition, to project between the two ball links of said chain adjacent the inner end of said Lguide to prevent further inward movement of said pull chain.

4. In a device of the character de scribedthe combination of a rotary contact for controlling a circuit, an actuating member mounted for rotary reciprocal movement through a limited arc for operating said contact, a spring for holding said member in normal retracted position, a pull chain comprising balls and connecting links for moving Vsaid actuating member against the tension of said spring to operate said rotary contact, a chain guide and means mounted on said actuating member and adapted, when said actuating member is in normal position, to project between the two balllinks of said pull chain adjacent the inner end of said guide to prevent undue inward movement of said pull chain when released.

5. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a pair of fixed contacts,`a rotatable contact for bridging said fixed contacts to vclose a circuit, `an actuating member mounted for rel ciprocal rotary movement through a predetermined arc for operating said rotatable contact,l

a spring for holding said member in normal retracted position, a pull chain comprising balls and connecting links'for moving said actuating member against the tension of said spring tooperate saidrotatable contact,.abell guide through which said chain passes outwardly from said switch and a curved guard mounted on said actu.

ating member and adapted, when said actuating member is innormal position, to project between the two ball links of said 'chain adjacent the inner end of said guide'to prevent undue inwardA movement of said pull chain.

FRANK E. Jo'HN'soN. 

